HONOLULU — Sen. Brian Taniguchi, who represents the Mānoa-Moʻiliʻili district that includes the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, received the Ellingson-Bitner award from the UH Mānoa Campus Center Board (CCB) at the annual "CCB End of the Year Appreciation Banquet" on May 1, 2007. Established in 1973 and named in honor of Si Ellingson and Harold Bitner, who were both Dean of Students, the award is periodically given to outstanding individuals who have advocated for student growth. The CCB also recognized several student employees: Mark Guillermo, Laine Malson, Elise St. Claire, and Brandon Yamamoto.

Sen. Taniguchi graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a bachelor‘s degree in liberal studies in December 1973 and a juris doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 1978. During his undergraduate tenure, he and his colleagues helped establish Ethnic Studies as a permanent degree program while serving as a student senator for the Associated Students of the Unviersity of Hawaiʻi (ASUH). Following his education, he was elected to the political office as a Hawaiʻi State Representative from 1980 to 1994, and as a Hawaiʻi State Senator from 1994 to his current term. Throughout his political career, Sen. Taniguchi has been a supporter for the improvement of student life at UH Mānoa. This past year, he has been working collaboratively with his colleagues in both the Hawaiʻi State House and Hawaiʻi State Senate to financially assist the Campus Center renovation and expansion project.

The Campus Center Board at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa provides governance for the Campus Center and its programs. For more information, visit www.hawaii.edu/ccb or call 956-9670.